Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                    April 15, 1991
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

Dick Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  407/867-2468)

Capt. Marty Hauser
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
(Phone:  703/695-5766)


Release:  91-54

STS-39/DISCOVERY LAUNCH DATE SET


	At the conclusion of today's Flight Readiness Review of mission 
STS-39 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Shuttle and payload managers 
targeted April 23 for launch of this Department of Defense-dedicated 
mission.

	The launch window for STS-39 on April 23 opens at 7:05 a.m. and 
extends to 9:35 a.m. EDT, on Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

	Commanding the seven-man Discovery crew will be Navy Capt. Michael 
L. Coats.  Air Force Major L. Blaine Hammond will serve as pilot.  
Mission Specialists include Gregory J. Harbaugh;  USAF Lt. Col. Don 
McMonagle;  USAF Col. Guion Bluford;  C. Lacy Veach;  and Richard J. 
Hieb.

	Two primary payloads will be carried aboard Discovery:  Air Force 
Program 675 (AFP-675) and the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's 
(SDIO) Infrared Background Signature Survey (IBSS).

                                        - end -







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DATE & TIME:  APRIL 16, 1991

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